Lavrov: OSCE may play more significant role in international affairs

The OSCE, due to its geographic scope and comprehensive approach to security, may play a more significant role in international affairs, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference following the talks with the OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, Report informs.

“We have a common opinion on the need to improve the work of the organization. We agree that due to its wide geographical coverage and comprehensive approach to security in all its dimensions, as well as due to the rule of consensus, the OSCE is quite capable of playing a more significant role in international affairs, of course, primarily in the Euro-Atlantic region,” Lavrov said.

“Russia is confident that for this to happen, it is necessary to return the culture of mutually respectful equal dialogue and search for compromises, which was once inherent in the organization,” the Russian foreign minister added.

However, unfortunately, not all OSCE participants share this point of view, Lavrov said.

“Today, we shared examples that show the persistence of geographical, thematic imbalances in the work of the administrative structures of the organization. We all inherited these disbalances from the 90s of the last century when the desire to divide the countries of the common European space into teachers and students was manifested. It is clear that this is a road to nowhere. All these imbalances must be corrected as soon as possible,” Lavrov added.